Boxing Picks 2025- Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis (Saturday 12th April)

When the money is as good as some of the top names in the Boxing community are earning, it is always the hardest thing to let go.

The reality is that for fighters like Joe Joyce, they are unlikely to be in a position to earn at their current levels doing anything else and that makes it that much harder to accept when your time is finished in the ring.

Even Frank Warren sounded a little nervous to commit to further fights promoting Joyce after his latest loss, but this is not a decision for Warren, but one that Joe Joyce is going to have to make himself.

He was not completely outclassed by Filip Hrgovic, but the Croatian has not exactly looked like a top level Heavyweight himself in recent outings and so you have to believe the upper echelon of the Division is now beyond the reach of Joe Joyce. Does he really want to become something of a gate-keeper at 39 years old and with the reflexes slowing down all the time? He cannot seriously believe he can become a World Champion now, even if the Titles are eventually fragmented again, and so that conversation about retirement will have to be had by those around him.

Sometimes the fighter does need to be protected from themselves, but news that Josh Warrington is making another return this week just underlines the point about how hard it is to accept limitations.

Speaking about Warrington, it did felt like something was left in the tank even after suffering a third straight loss and he may get one more big run. That seems much more unlikely for Joe Joyce and that is where people do need to have his best interests at heart.

Last weekend was a crossroads fight for Joyce and Hrgovic and the same could be said for Tim Tszyu who secured a big win after consecutive defeats in the United States. He looks in line to face Keith Thurman as he continues his rebuild, while the controversial ending to David Adeleye's win over TKV has already had the British Board request for a rematch.

Richard Torrez Jr continues his move up the Heavyweight World Rankings with a solid win on the board and it was another good week of action for fans of the sport.

We are now just two weeks away from the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn card, but there is a big rematch in British terms next weekend when Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron meet for a second time.

However, the biggest fight left in April should be coming from Atlantic City when the WBA and IBF World Titles in the Welterweight Division are Unified.

Some may feel this is also the bout that should determine the Number 1 in the Division, but Brian Norman Jr can certainly make a challenge to that and is potentially next in line for the winner in yet another Unification.

Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis

With Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford moved on after deciding the best in the 147 pound Division in July 2023, the Welterweights have perhaps lost some of the star appeal that has been associated with those fighting for the World Titles for years.

There had been a lot of hype around Jaron Ennis, but recent performances have raised more questions than answers.

He can make a real statement this weekend if he can Unify two of the four World Titles and the hope is that we will continue to see the Champions fight one another through the remainder of the calendar year.

Winning the Interim IBF World Title in January 2023 should have sparked the Jaron Ennis run, but he has struggled to entice a really big name in the ring with him. Two wins over Karen Chukhadzhian and further victories over Roiman Villa and David Avanesyan are not exactly going to bring Ennis to the forefront and he needs to win this fight and win well.

No one should doubt the ability of the IBF World Champion, even if some believe he has been getting hit more than he should against limited opposition. Some of that may be down to the lacklustre names in front of him, but Jaron Ennis will not have many excuses if he underperforms against an unbeaten WBA World Champion.

Eimantas Stanionis won the Regular WBA World Title in his fourteenth fight and defended it in his fifteenth, but has since been upgraded to full World Champion. The worrying part of that is that those two fights took place in April 2022 and August 2024 and inactivity has been a real issue for the 30 year old.

After the Covid pandemic, Stanionis was out twice in quick succession, but there has to be a big impact in his development that his last seven fights have been since December 2019. There is inactivity and there is inactivity and while some of it has not been the fault of the fighter, you do have to wonder how ready the Lithuanian can be for a challenge like this one.

You may look at the Jaron Ennis resume and become a little underwhelmed, but there is almost nothing on the Eimantas Stanionis resume that would have you sit up and take notice.

He has proven to be tough and Stanionis should help create an interesting fight with his come forward style, but this is likely going to end with Jaron Ennis having a chance to show off why so many believe he is the best in the Division.

We should see all of the Ennis skills as he breaks down an opponent that has not really been prepared for this kind of test, while the IBF World Champion has had two solid fights in 2024 and should be improving with the regular return to the ring.

There will be plenty of eyes on this fight, and it is one where Jaron Ennis may just grow as it develops with the American forcing a Stoppage at some stage in the second half of the contest.

MY PICKS: Jaron Ennis to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2025: 15-33, - 10.73 Units (58 Units Staked, - 18.50% Yield)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2025 (Saturday 12th April)

Most, not all, of the Masters events played on the ATP Tour have been extended a few days rather than played within a single week, but the Monte Carlo Masters is a rare event that sticks with the traditional format.

It does mean a fast moving tournament is into the final two days with the Semi Final matches scheduled for Saturday.

Some of the top names have been playing here this week with this being the first big step on the road to the French Open, but it is the defending Roland Garros Champion who is the highest Seed remaining in the tournament.

His opponent secured an easy win for the Tennis Picks in the Quarter Final and that has just ensured a solid bounce back after losing the first selection of the clay court season. There are still three potential Picks to be made before we can come to a conclusion on this being a positive week or not, but we are in a good position moving into Semi Final day.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina + 4.5 games v Carlos Alcaraz: The feeling was that Alejandro Davidovich Fokina would have too much clay court nous for Alexei Popyrin, but it still came as a slight surprise that he was able to win that Quarter Final without any issues at all.

The Spaniard did not face a Break Point in that win, and was able to create nine chances with three Breaks produced, but everyone on his team will be expecting a vastly tougher challenge when going up against the World Number 3.

Rafael Nadal had been the dominant clay court player in his time on the Tour and likely goes down as the greatest player on the surface, but Spanish tennis has been given a boost by the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz on the Tour. He is already a multiple time Grand Slam Champion and the World Number 3 is the defending French Open Champion, while likely going into Roland Garros as the favourite to win the title again.

However, it has not been the easiest of weeks for Carlos Alcaraz and he was given a real test in his Quarter Final win over Arthur Fils.

Players at the very elite level of tennis are always going to be looking for improvements and Carlos Alcaraz will certainly feel he can serve better than he has so far this week. His last two opponents have both created at least ten Break Points against him and that is something that Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will look to exploit in his bid to earn the upset.

Of course the lower Ranked Spaniard is going to be have to be well aware of the returning power that Carlos Alcaraz has on any clay court.

It has been that aspect of his tennis that has helped him through to the Semi Final here and Alcaraz will not be overly concerned about the serve of the World Number 42, even if Davidovich Fokina is a player that can rally with just about anybody on the clay.

This is likely to be a tough match for both, much like it was when they met in Barcelona two years ago.

On that occasion Carlos Alcaraz was able to come through in two competitive sets, but both players managed to produce eleven Break Points and it was only converting four Breaks to three that helped Alcaraz to the victory.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has played well enough here in Monte Carlo to believe he can at least push the younger man again and this looks like plenty of games to be given to the former. There will be some moments where Davidovich Fokina is going to have to fend off the Carlos Alcaraz charge, but he is certainly capable of returning well enough to create opportunities of his own and ultimately that may see him cover, even in a likely losing effort.

MY PICKS: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina + 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Monte Carlo Update: 4-1, + 2.39 Units (5 Units Staked, + 47.80% Yield)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2023 (April 12th)

It was a mixed day at the Monte Carlo Masters, but the meat of the tournament will be played in the next couple of days and I am looking for a real upturn in returns.

I have not been very happy with the first two days for the Tennis Picks, although I do think there have been fewer 'bad selections' compared with those that had chances to get into a winning position. My feeling is that a slight improvement in the fortune at key moments will swing things back around in a positive direction and I will be looking for some of that on Wednesday.

The update for the season totals will be added to this thread on Wednesday morning, but the late creation of some of the markets means I will place my selections for the day below beforehand.

MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 3.5 Games @ 1.87 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Nicolas Jarry - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Jannik Sinner - 5.5 Games @ 1.87 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Karen Khachanov - 3.5 Games @ 1.66 Bet365 (2 Units)

Stan Wawrinka @ 2.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Holger Rune - 3.5 Games @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Update: 2-4, - 4.52 Units (12 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Tennis 2023: + 12.21 Units (432 Units Staked, + 2.83% Yield)

March 2023: - 1.73 Units (189 Units Staked, - 1% Yield)

February 2023: + 0.26 Units (18 Units Staked, + 1.44% Yield)

January 2023: + 13.68 Units (146 Units Staked, + 9.37% Yield)

Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 12th)

There were some ups and some downs over the course of Monday and the five Tennis Picks largely had a mixed day on the court.

The first four could have all won, but also all lost on another day, so the split was not too bad. Thankfully Marin Cilic did his job as expected and in routine fashion to bring in a winning day and square up the Monte Carlo Masters after the sole loss on Sunday.

The remainder of the First Round is set to be completed on Tuesday, but it is also the day Novak Djokovic returns to the court for the first time since the ATP 500 event in Dubai. The current World Number 1 has admitted it has been a difficult time for him with all of the drama around his decision to travel to the Australian Open before being forced to leave the country.

Other nations are still making it clear that unvaccinated athletes will not be able to enter their borders, but the clay court season feels like a very good time for Novak Djokovic to have some consistency in his season. Monte Carlo, Spain, Italy and France all have come to the decision they will be allowing Novak Djokovic to compete and the defending French Open Champion will be looking to put strong runs together.

He is involved in one of three Second Round matches that are scheduled to be played on Tuesday and I am looking for the momentum from Monday to move the Tennis Picks into a winning position for the tournament so far.

Novak Djokovic - 5.5 games v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: We always want to see the top names out on the Tour, but injury means the Monte Carlo Masters will be without both Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev.

Thankfully Novak Djokovic is back on Tour to add star power to a loaded draw and it sounds like the nations that will be hosting events through to the French Open will be allowing unvaccinated athletes to compete. That is big news for Novak Djokovic, as is the French lifting restrictions which means he can defend his French Open title and hopefully get some consistency with his own schedule back on the Tour.

Novak Djokovic has not played since the tournament in Dubai when he was upset in the Quarter Final against Jiri Vesely, although the World Number 1 did have a couple of solid wins before exiting the event. Playing on the clay should mean Novak Djokovic is able to build up his rhythm, although I can't forget that he was upset in this tournament twelve months ago in the build to the French Open and that was at a time when Djokovic was playing much more regularly.

You cannot make up competitive tennis conditions in practice, but Novak Djokovic is an exceptional player and I think this is a player that will be very focused with what he wants to do. I think he does benefit from playing an opponent that Djokovic will be comfortable playing as he goes up against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who was beaten by the Serb very easily at the Rome Masters and the Tokyo Olympics.

Their match in Rome saw Novak Djokovic dominate the match and win 55% of return points against the Davidovich Fokina serve, although I expect this one to be closer considering the layoff that Djokovic has had to endure from the Tour.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is comfortable on the clay courts and he has won a match here in Monte Carlo already, although he was beaten in the first match played on the surface last week in Marrakech. The serve can be vulnerable on the clay courts and I think that is where Novak Djokovic, the best returner in the game, could put the Spaniard under immense pressure from the off.

His numbers on the clay courts are decent enough overall, but Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has really struggled when facing top 20 Ranked opponents on this surface over the last twelve months. The Spaniard seems to play the big points pretty well considering the amount of sets he has won doesn't really coincide with the numbers produced, but Novak Djokovic has been able to force his tennis to dominate the rallies between these players and I think he will find the breaks of serve to eventually pull clear and cover this big mark on his return to the Tour.

Pedro Martinez - 3.5 games v Ugo Humbert: This has been a tough year for Ugo Humbert already with a 2-7 record in 2022 and I am not sure he is going to be too happy about the move onto the clay courts. Last year Ugo Humbert finished with a 1-6 record on the clay courts and his numbers have been below average on the clay courts through much of his career.

A loss of confidence and perhaps a dislike to the surface does not really bode well for Ugo Humbert and especially not when he is facing someone who is happy on the clay.

Pedro Martinez won a title in Santiago during the Golden Swing earlier this year, although he did suffer some early losses in the other three tournaments played on the red dirt in South America. He put some battling wins together to win the title in Santiago, and the numbers in 2022 have not been eye-catching, but Pedro Martinez has been up against opponents who have also been comfortable on the clay and that is simply not the case here.

Last year the Spaniard had stronger clay court numbers and I do think the soon to be 25 year old will have enough know-how on this surface to beat Ugo Humbert. The Frenchman has only held 77% of service games on the hard courts this year, but Ugo Humbert's numbers on the clay were at 70% in 2021 and he has simply not returned as well as he would like.

This is a wide mark when you think of some of the Pedro Martinez limitations, but I do think he will have the majority of the break point chances and the confidence of Ugo Humbert is not in a good place right now. I think that will show up in this First Round match and I think Pedro Martinez will find the breaks of serve to pull away in the overall games stakes.

Lorenzo Musetti - 3.5 games v Benoit Paire: The suggestion from Benoit Paire over the last couple of years is that he has not enjoyed playing tennis in front of empty stands, but the current World Number 61 has not exactly lit things up in 2022 now the fans are back. The Frenchman has a really poor 3-10 record in 2022 and Benoit Paire has been struggling with most aspects of his tennis, which makes him a vulnerable First Round player.

Things have not been much better for Benoit Paire when it has come to clay court tennis and his numbers have been pretty poor since the pandemic hit 2020. He decided to take part in the Golden Swing in South America earlier this year, but Benoit Paire returned having played in three tournaments and failed to win a single match.

Unsurprisingly the return has been working to some extent on the red dirt, but the real problem for Benoit Paire has been the poor serving. The return of serve will offer Benoit Paire a chance of winning this match, but he cannot overcome a level where he is holding just 65% of service games as he has been operating at over the last twelve months on this surface.

He is the underdog against Lorenzo Musetti, although the youngster has been having a mixed year of his own. After breaking onto the Tour with some big performances, Lorenzo Musetti is perhaps finding things more difficult now that opponents have an idea of how he plays and strengths and weaknesses on display.

Like many of his compatriots, Lorenzo Musetti is comfortable on the clay courts and he did reach the Fourth Round at Roland Garros where he held a 2-0 lead over Novak Djokovic before wearing down against the eventual French Open Champion. The Italian has reached the Quarter Final in Marrakech this season, and over the last twelve months Lorenzo Musetti has been that much stronger than Benoit Paire when it comes to holding serve which can make the difference in this First Round match.

Lorenzo Musetti was a convincing winner over Benoit Paire at the Miami Masters in 2021 and I do think he is the superior clay court player of the two. While there is still room to grow for the young Italian, I think he will have the edge in the serving department which leads to a solid win in the First Round in Monte Carlo.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Pedro Martinez - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Lorenzo Musetti - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

David Goffin - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Stefanos Tsitsipas - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Monte Carlo Update: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (12 Units Staked, - 2.83% Yield)

Monte Carlo Tennis Day 3 Picks 2021 (April 12th)

The clay court season has arrived, but I think it was a good time to also just take a moment and put a week between any Tennis Picks and the Miami Masters.

The tournament was progressing exactly as I would have wanted, but a pretty unbelievable 0-8 run over the last four days obliterated the foundations and ended the week with a losing record. It is frustrating with at least three players letting me down from winning positions (and I am not going to ignore the fact that five selections were poor selections).

If those three had won from the position they had been in, the tournament would have been a solid one with the returns made, but bad luck coupled with bad selections meant a poor ending to the opening hard court portion of the 2021 season.

The majority of the clay court tournaments being played through to the French Open are still looking to begin as scheduled, but news arrived this week that the second Grand Slam of the season will be delayed one week after rising infections of Covid-19 in France.

I am not sure how I feel about this- one it means encroaching on the grass court season, but I am simply not sure a one week delay will make such a difference to a nation that has been struggling to deal with a third wave of infections. It certainly is something we will have to keep an eye on going forward and I do think the clay court events that are scheduled before the French Open will also be keen for the tournament to avoid having further delays as it will surely impact which players wish to take part in those events if the Grand Slam is in danger of another major move.

The remaining Grand Slams scheduled to be played in 2021 offered support to Roland Garros, although Wimbledon and the US Open will be hoping the organisers do not make the rash decision they did twelve months ago when moving the French Open to the Autumn without any indication to the rest of the Tour.

I am hoping some of my pessimism surrounding the slight delay to the tournament is unfounded and that things begin to improve in Europe in general, but it seems a strange move to make in April with the French Open not due to begin until the end of May.

One real shame for the tournament is that the Finals are now scheduled to be played on the opening weekend of the Euro 2020 Finals and the Men's Final will be clashing with England's first Group game.

Before we get to the French Open, the clay court run up is usually very competitive with some big events and a number of Masters 1000 tournaments set to be played. We begin those Masters events in Monte Carlo where Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are both back in action having not been seen since the Australian Open, while a loaded draw looks competitive right from the off.

It is a busy week in Monte Carlo with the first few days seeing plenty of matches scheduled to be played.

Sunday has a couple of First Round matches to open the tournament, but the majority of the Singles scheduled are the final Qualifiers. On Monday a large portion of the First Round will be set to be played, and the Second Round will get going on Tuesday along with the remainder of the First Round in what is a busy one week event to really get the clay court season going.

There is also a secondary WTA event being held in Charleston this week having seen a much stronger field take part on the green clay there last week.

However the Billie Jean King Cup Play Offs are played this week which features some of the elite WTA players and that means the next really big tournament will be played in Stuttgart in a few days time.

The first three days are going to see some markets produced a little later than I would like for the threads I have putting together and that may mean I cannot write out full thoughts for some of the selections.

However, others that fit the criteria will hopefully become clear early enough to put together fuller posts throughout the week as I look for a good start to the clay court campaign heading towards the French Open.

Salvatore Caruso - 5.5 games v Lucas Catarina: On the face of things it is hard to really look to back a player that is favoured by this many games who has not really reached the heights on the ATP Tour as you would hope. Salvatore Caruso has had to win a couple of Qualifiers to enter the main draw of the Monte Carlo Masters and he is slowly moving back towards his career best World Ranking of Number 76.

However, the Italian has won those two matches in the Qualifiers which will offer some encouragement and confidence. And you cannot ignore the fact that Caruso is facing Lucas Catarina who has been given a Wild Card in his home tournament and who has not played on the main Tour too often.

The 24 year old has lost all four previous matches he has played in Monte Carlo and Lucas Catarina has struggled with his numbers across the board and now has to take on an opponent who will be comfortable in the conditions after the back to back wins secured over this past weekend.

Lucas Catarina has been winning matches on the hard courts at a lower level than the main ATP Tour, but he is going to be playing on the red dirt for the first time since August 2019. I have to expect he will be pretty comfortable playing at home, but going up against a competent clay court player who is considerably higher up the World Rankings looks like another difficult challenge for Catarina and a gap that is unlikely to be bridged over two hours on the court.

I am not really expecting too many deep runs from Salvatore Caruso on the clay courts in the next couple of months, but I do think he is someone who can play well enough to beat a certain level of opponent. He has served well in his two Qualifying wins, but most impressive has been the return against Martin Klizan and Bernard Tomic and I do think Caruso will be able to use that part of his game to put Lucas Catarina under pressure and eventually earn the breaks that see him cover a big looking handicap on Monday in this Masters event.

Jan-Lennard Struff + 3.5 games v Grigor Dimitrov: The overall beginning to the 2021 season has seen Grigor Dimitrov playing at a higher level than Jan-Lennard Struff, but there have been some poor losses suffered by the former too. It has perhaps seen Dimitrov fail to take advantage of some of the draws he has been presented with and now the Bulgarian will move into the clay court season where has regularly found life more difficult than on the other surfaces on the Tour.

This is the first time Grigor Dimitrov will play in a clay court tournament in 2021 and it won't be easy for him to match the kind of level he showed in his 2020 clay court matches. For starters he only played in two tournaments on the surface last year and so it is hard to really believe in the strong numbers considering his fairly consistent level previously which Dimitrov had over-performed by a wide margin.

We will get to learn plenty about Grigor Dimitrov when he takes on Jan-Lennard Struff who has a losing record in the 2021 season, but who reached the Quarter Final in Cagliari last week. The German player has just had a difficult couple of months to open this season, but Struff has a game that has been pretty solid on the clay courts and one that is perhaps even marginally stronger than Grigor Dimitrov's.

Playing a couple of clay court matches last week should stand Jan-Lennard Struff in good stead and he looks like an underdog that can make life very tough for his higher Ranked opponent.

That has played out between these players in the past with Grigor Dimitrov holding a narrow 3-2 advantage, although they have split the previous four played on the clay. The two players have met twice at the Monte Carlo Masters (1-1) and once at the Rome Masters where Jan-Lennard Struff was able to pick up the win and the numbers from those matches are heavily favouring the underdog.

Jan-Lennard Struff has held in 87% of service games played in those matches compared with Grigor Dimitrov's 79% mark and the former also wins a slightly higher percentage of service points in those matches. The German has also created a lot more break points than Grigor Dimitrov in the three Masters clay court matches and I do think Jan-Lennard Struff can do enough to keep this competitive at the least.

I think he is capable of winning this match outright, but Jan-Lennard Struff would have covered in all three Masters clay court matches with this number of games behind him. The handicap mark looks just high enough to get behind the underdog in this First Round Monte Carlo match.

MY PICKS: Salvatore Caruso - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Jan-Lennard Struff + 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Season 2021: - 6.98 Units (507.5 Units Staked, - 1.37% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2019- Vasyl Lomachenko vs Anthony Crolla (April 12th)

Once again we are going to get some Friday night action as the abundance of cards being put together means promoters are trying their best not to clash with each other.

The main attraction this week has to be the return of Vasyl Lomachenko who should have been involved in perhaps a more mouth-watering fight than the one he has to deal with. A mandatory instead of a Unification is never what someone like Lomachenko would want, but an injury to Richard Commey means he didn't have much choice outside of dropping his belt and that was never going to happen with such a proud fighter who wants to collect all the trinkets available.

Jaime Munguia is in action on a card on Saturday, while women's Boxing may have been given the first real super-fight in a generation as unbeaten Olympian Claressa Shields takes on unbeaten Christina Hammer as the main event of a card on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City.


It has been a month since my last selections from a Boxing card were made and that has happened for a couple of reasons. Firstly there has not been a lot of fights to appeal in that time, while I was also away for the last big card in London.

The season has not begun in the manner I would have wanted, but I am hoping to get that turned around and back up the successful 2018 season.

Gilberto Ramirez vs Tommy Karpency

There has been some confusion with the status of Gilberto Ramirez as it seemed like he had vacated his WBO Super Middleweight Title to move up to Light Heavyweight, but instead this seems like a one fight foray into the higher Division.

Well that is the case for now for the unbeaten Mexican who has been big for Super Middleweight or so it has seemed. Being unbeaten in thirty-nine fights is a very good achievement for any Boxer, but I do think Gilberto Ramirez has been matched well and he has yet to really take on the kind of Challenger that many would like to see.

This is not really that kind of test as Ramirez meets Tommy Karpency on the undercard of the Vasyl Lomachenko card.

Ramirez is going to be the taller man with the longer reach, although Karpency will have to be respected knowing he has been in with some tough opponents at the weight. Without a doubt the best of the performances was the Split Decision defeat to Chad Dawson, but Karpency was also wiped out by Adonis Stevenson in Three Rounds and stopped by Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Six Rounds, although Karpency has shown he has some pop by putting the current WBC Champion down in that defeat.

Ultimately I think this is a good showcase fight for Ramirez to show he can compete at the higher weight than he has been used to operating at. I do think Tommy Karpency is a good kind of fighter to show Ramirez can be a player at this weight and I can see him getting Karpency out of there slightly earlier than Gvozdyk did.

Backing Ramirez to find the stoppage in the first half of the fight is the selection.

Vasyl Lomachenko vs Anthony Crolla

The layers are not expecting this fight to be competitive and, as much as I like Anthony Crolla, I have to agree with them.

World Boxing is all about levels and this is featuring an elite, pound for pound king versus someone who has overachieved to realise his dream of becoming a World Champion. Anthony Crolla did give Jorge Linares something to think about in their first fight, but he was outclassed in the rematch and Vasyl Lomachenko is a really special talent.

The only thing that could hold Lomachenko back is that this is a fight that is not of the magnitude he has been used to taking on since turning professional. Even then I think the attitude of the Ukrainian is spot on and he will look at this as a minor obstacle that needs dealing with before he can move on to Unification bouts.

Most of his recent opponents have not been able to stay with Lomachenko who takes away the desire with the superior boxing and eventually starts finding the openings which breaks down opponents. I do think that is going to happen in this one too with Anthony Crolla looking like his come forward, pressure style is going to be made for Lomachenko to pick him apart.

In his rematch with Jorge Linares, Anthony Crolla had to plead with Joe Gallagher to allow him to finish what had been a one-sided second half of the fight. This time I can see the trainer getting his way with his charge and being allowed to pull him out once he loses the first six or seven Rounds.

I can only see Lomachenko breaking down Crolla and begin to really hurt him just past the halfway mark of this fight and I am going to back the Ukrainian to earn the stoppage in the second half of the bout.

Peter Quillin vs Caleb Truax

This is the epitome of a crossroads fight when Peter Quillin and Caleb Truax meet in the Super Middleweight Division.

Both are 35 years old and turning 36 during the course of 2019 and both are also former World Champions. Caleb Truax won his title in the Super Middleweight Division when upsetting James DeGale, but he lost the rematch, while Peter Quillin was a Middleweight Champion before being dethroned in One Round by Daniel Jacobs.

This is only the third fight for Quillin since that defeat to Jacobs, although Truax has only been slightly more active of the two fighters.

The winner may go on and think about potentially challenging for a World Title, but at this age I would wonder if the losing fighter has to consider retirement.

There is much on the line on Saturday.

My feeling is that there is still more in the tank for Quillin especially when you consider the two tough fights Truax had with DeGale. It has become clear that DeGale has not been the same fighter as he was in his prime and that was a big factor in his defeat to Truax and I do believe Quillin may be the better Boxer in this fight.

The superior reach is with Truax which could cause problems if he tries to stay on the back foot, but that is not his style and I think it will allow Quillin to get in and do his work. Being at home should encourage and motivate Truax to keep coming forward and I do think there is every chance there will be a Split or Majority Decision verdict in this one.

I think there is likely to be slightly more in the Quillin tank though and he can edge to a victory in this one. Beating a home fighter on the cards is not easy, but I think Quillin can show the superior Boxing to do that.

Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs Jack Culcay

Six months ago Sergiy Derevyanchenko came very close to beating Daniel Jacobs and he was punished for a nervy start which saw him hit the canvas in the First Round in what was ultimately a Split Decision defeat.

Instead of a potential Unification fight with Canelo Alvarez, Derevyanchenko is trying to rebuild when he goes up against Jack Culcay on the same PBC card as Peter Quillin and Caleb Truax.

This is far from a straight-forward fight for Derevyanchenko when you think Culcay has been the distance with the likes of Demetrius Andrade and Maciej Sulecki. Both of those fighters are solid Middleweights and Culcay was very close to ending the Andrade unbeaten run and I think the German will come into this fight with plenty of belief.

Jack Culcay has won three fights since the last defeat to Sulecki, but I think Derevyanchenko could be the hardest hitter he will have faced and it will be interesting to see if the Ukrainian can become the first man to stop him. I do think he is the right favourite and I think Derevyanchenko would have learnt a lot from the loss to Danny Jacobs.

This should be the start of his rebuilding back up the World Rankings and I think Culcay is going to do very well to keep Derevyanchenko's power in check in this one. Fighters like Andrade and Sulecki don't hit as hard as Derevyanchenko and I think the latter is going to be looking to make a statement against someone who has hit the canvas before even if he has yet to be stopped as a professional.

I would be surprised if that occurred early though and I expect Derevyanchenko to wear down Culcay and perhaps put something together in the second half of the fight that forces the stoppage.

Jaime Munguia vs Dennis Hogan

It seems only a matter of time that Jaime Munguia will join the loaded Middleweight Division as he could have done twelve months ago when a potential opponent for Gennady Golovkin. The last year has been a very good one for Jaime Munguia who has become one of the leading names at 154 pounds even if it does feel he is too big for the weight.

He will be defending his WBO Light-Middleweight belt on Saturday when Dennis Hogan comes to Mexico to take on the power punching home favourite.

Someone who has Irish blood and fights out of Australia is going to be a tough man to break down, but Dennis Hogan is taking a considerable step up from his usual level of competition. We are going to find out how durable he is because I don't think he is going to want to move out of the way of a brawl which is what Munguia will bring to begin with.

I have seen Munguia begin to box when he feels his power is not having the impact he would like, but I also think the young Mexican is learning his craft and will want to show other elements of his Boxing where he can. This fight feels much more like a showcase one for Munguia back in Mexico for the first time in thirteen months and I do think he is going to win a firefight fairly early.

Munguia has blown out Sadam Ali and Brandon Cooks and been forced to go the distance with Liam Smith and Takeshi Inoue over the last twelve months. The latter two fighters showed how far toughness can take them even against some as hard hitting as Munguia, but we are going to learn a lot about Hogan in this one.

It should be one where neither takes a backward step though and I think that is where Munguia can give the home crowd a highlight reel finish with an early stoppage.

MY PICKS: Gilberto Ramirez to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Vasyl Lomachenko to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Peter Quillin to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.62 Bet365 (2 Units)

Sergiy Derevyanchenko to Win Between 7-12 @ 4.00 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Jaime Munguia to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.25 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Weekend Football Picks 2019 (April 12-15)

The Premier League weekend is played from Friday through to Monday evening this week and at this stage of the season every fixture's importance is increased tenfold.

That is especially the case at the top and bottom of the table and this weekend we could start seeing some separation as far as the top four and the bottom three places are concerned. Sunday is also another huge day in the Premier League title race and the tensions are now raised up and down the country with ambitions looking to be fulfilled.


The Fantasy Football plays from last week should have offered another solutions to those looking to mould their squads for the final weeks of the season. In the 2019/20 season I will be making a slight change as to how I will offer out my Fantasy selections for the week, but for the remainder of this season I will continue to highlight higher priced and lower priced options that can hopefully help when it comes to putting transfers together.

Remember we have another Friday deadline this week so teams have to be set by 7pm British time.


Leicester City v Newcastle United Pick: The opening Premier League fixture of the weekend is played on a Friday night for the second week in a row as Leicester City get set to host Newcastle United in front of the television cameras.

It feels like an exciting time to be a Leicester City fan as it has become clear that Brendan Rodgers remains very keen on his teams expressing themselves and playing attacking football. The players have to be happy about that after a miserable time under Claude Puel and they have responded with 5 wins in 6 games since the Frenchman was sacked.

Leicester City have scored two or more goals in 4 straight Premier League games and it is the first time it has happened since April 2017 and the strong run the team went on after Claudio Ranieri was sacked. They have won their last 3 in a row at the King Power Stadium and Leicester City go into this one favoured to beat Newcastle United.

Rafael Benitez will look to set up his Newcastle United team to be tough to beat and I think the manager will be focusing on trying to contain their hosts and hit them on the counter attack. In recent games that has been a problem in trying to find the balance they need to cause problems for opponents and Newcastle United have really been struggling on their travels.

They have conceded twice in 3 away games in a row, which is not what you would expect from a Benitez team, and only an injury time equaliser at Bournemouth has prevented Newcastle United from losing all of those games. It is up to the manager to try and refocus his players who may feel they are safe from the drop and just reduced their intensity a touch, but this looks a tough fixture for them to get things turned around.

The confidence the Leicester City players have built up and the momentum behind them will be difficult to stop this weekend and I will back the home team to keep their run going. They have needed to score at least two goals in recent wins as Leicester City have not convinced at the back and I think Brendan Rodgers will always ask his team to search for goals so I will look for Leicester City to win a game featuring two more goals.

Fantasy Star: Jamie Vardy- the England international has been in fantastic goal-scoring form under Brendan Rodgers and can keep that going through another fixture.

Alternative: James Maddison- like last week, I am picking the same two players who had a big influence in the crushing win at Huddersfield Town.


Tottenham Hotspur v Huddersfield Town Pick: There is a potential distraction for Tottenham Hotspur this weekend as they are just days away from the Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg against Manchester City. After winning the First Leg 1-0 at their new Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur have given themselves every chance of progressing to the Semi Final, but Mauricio Pochettino will be reminding his players that a return to the Champions League will be best earned with a top four finish.

They were knocked down to 4th in the Premier League table last weekend thanks to Chelsea's win over West Ham United, but Tottenham Hotspur still control their own destiny.

Winning their remaining six Premier League games would earn Tottenham Hotspur another Champions League season and they will be looking to win their third straight game at their new Stadium on Saturday. Losing Harry Kane to an injury is a blow, but Heung-Min Son can fill in as he did for the England international earlier this season.

Tottenham Hotspur also benefit from facing a Huddersfield Town team who have been struggling all season and suffered 5 League losses in a row. They have been second best in so many games and Huddersfield Town are going to find it very difficult to bridge the gap to this Spurs team who will be playing with confidence.

In the last two years Huddersfield Town have been back in the top flight they have lost all 3 games against Tottenham Hotspur. All of those defeats have come by two or more goal margins and Huddersfield Town have not scored in any of those fixtures.

Spurs have kept clean sheets in both games played in their new Stadium and I think they are capable of doing that again on Saturday in front of the television cameras. I would not be surprised if some changes are made to the starting eleven with the Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg in mind, but Tottenham Hotspur should still have too much for Huddersfield Town.

The price for Tottenham Hotspur to win this fixture with a clean sheet is much bigger than I would have anticipated and I think that is the most likely outcome of this fixture.

Fantasy Star: Heung-Min Son- Harry Kane's injury means the South Korean may take over as the striker for Tottenham Hotspur against a vulnerable Huddersfield Town defence.

Alternative: Kieran Trippier- a potential source of assists and with every chance of adding a clean sheet too.


Brighton v Bournemouth Pick: This is a huge game for Brighton if they are going to earn their place in the Premier League for another season and it has to be one they target for the three points to ease the pressure on the upcoming fixture with Cardiff City.

Home form is going to be very important for Brighton the rest of the way if they are going to avoid relegation to the Championship and they are facing Cardiff City and Newcastle United here this month.

First up is a Bournemouth team who have lost 10 of their last 11 away Premier League games and who have conceded at least twice in each of those defeats. Brighton may not be blessed with the goal threat to take advantage of those defensive vulnerabilities, but they will feel they will get chances as long as they are able to defend properly.

Brighton are not an easy team to break down, but Bournemouth have some quality players in the final third and much will depend on how much Eddie Howe has been able to motivate a squad that has looked a little disinterested in recent games. In reality Bournemouth already look safe from the drop and injuries have caught up with the squad which makes them an almost perfect opponent for those clubs looking to get out of relegation difficulties.

The record against Bournemouth in recent years does not offer a lot of confidence for Brighton backers, but their performance against Manchester City should give the players a boost. Chris Hughton will want them to go back to basics of being hard to beat and seeing if they can take advantage of any chances that come their way and I think Brighton may be able to secure a huge three points in this one.

They did beat Bournemouth in the FA Cup back in January and last season they twice led against The Cherries in an eventual draw. This time Bournemouth may be a little more vulnerable if recent performances are anything to go by and I will look for the home team to come out on top, although suggest using the Asian Handicap to get behind them.

Fantasy Star: Shane Duffy- Brighton have a Double GameWeek and Shane Duffy is a potential source of clean sheets and a threat from set pieces.

Alternative: Glenn Murray- he has been a key source of goals and faces Bournemouth and Cardiff City defences that have struggled for clean sheets.


Burnley v Cardiff City Pick: Back to back Premier League wins out of the international break has to have influenced the prices which have Burnley down as an odds on favourite to beat Cardiff City this weekend.

It is a huge game for both clubs with a win for Burnley likely securing their Premier League spot for another season, while a win for Cardiff City will keep them in touch with the teams above them. It would also give them some momentum to take into the relegation six pointer against Brighton on Tuesday, but the pressure is on Neil Warnock's side with games running out.

A defeat, with that in mind, could be a huge blow to them especially with Brighton and Southampton both playing at home this weekend and potentially increasing the gap between themselves and Cardiff City. That is a pressure the players will have to deal with on Saturday, but the Cardiff City performances have remained full of grit if not the quality they may need to survive.

Even with the wins Burnley have had in the last couple of weeks it is hard to believe in them as an odds on shot to beat any team in the Premier League. They are a team that will be matched for work ethic by Cardiff City and Burnley are not keeping many clean sheets which should be a reason for encouragement for the visitors.

Burnley have been creating chances and scoring goals though and I think that is going to help contribute to a game featuring three or more goals shared out. Cardiff City will have to take risks and both teams have scored in 5 of the last 7 Burnley home games.

Earlier this season these two teams shared out three goals and I will look for that to be the outcome of this pivotal Premier League game.

Fantasy Star: Dwight McNeil- the youngster has continued to thrive for Burnley and could be the key to their success in this fixture.

Alternative: Victor Camarasa- playing twice this week and has scored in two of the last three for Cardiff City. Potential free kick and penalty taker for his team too.


Fulham v Everton Pick: It is very difficult to imagine any team going on the kind of losing runs both Fulham and Huddersfield Town have had in the Premier League, but both have looked a long way short of the quality needed at this level.

Scott Parker has not been able to reverse the Fulham slide as they were beaten 4-1 at Watford a little under two weeks ago to fall to a 9th defeat in a row in the Premier League. They have lost their last 4 at home and it is very hard to win games when you have conceded at least twice in 7 straight at Craven Cottage in all competitions.

Even with the poor numbers in front of me, I can't be backing Everton at such a short price to win here. While they are in good form and the more likely winners, Everton will not have it easy here and I think the layers have priced them up as near to a sure thing at only a few ticks higher than than the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea who have won at Craven Cottage in the last couple of months.

Everton have won 3 in a row though and they have not conceded in that run, although that may have more to do with good fortune than great defending. I can see a way where Fulham play their part here considering their best performances have come at home, but ultimately I can't really see past an Everton win despite my reservations about their short price.

I think Everton will likely need to match the last 7 teams who have played on this ground and score at least twice if they are going to win this fixture. 6 of those teams have gone on to win the game and backing Everton to win a game featuring two or more goals at odds against looks a much more interesting angle than backing the visitors at short odds on.

Fantasy Star: Gylfi Sigurdsson- should have scored last week and has been the key cog in the middle of the park for Everton.

Alternative: Ryan Babel- the former Liverpool man would love to get one over their Merseyside rivals. Has been the main threat for Fulham in recent weeks.


Southampton v Wolves Pick: There is still much for Wolves to play for over the last six Premier League games, but the manager is going to have to work some of his charm to extract performances from them after the manner in which they were beaten in the FA Cup Semi Final.

With eleven minutes left Wolves were in complete control of the Semi Final, but a VAR intervention in injury time allowed Watford to come back from 2-0 down and eventually win 3-2 in Extra Time.

It really will feel like an opportunity lost for Wolves who were hoping to finish 7th and potentially win the FA Cup to underline a very successful season. It can still be a success if they finish 'best of the rest' in the Premier League, but they have been inconsistent away from home and this is a tough test for them.

Southampton played well in their 1-3 loss to Liverpool last Friday and the scoreline had some gloss put on it by the late Liverpool goals. A strong performance will give the players belief they can survive in the Premier League and a win on Saturday will go a large way to securing their future in the top flight.

They will believe they can earn those three points having won 4 of 9 Premier League games here under Ralph Hasenhuttl, although Southampton remain a little unconvincing at the back. That should mean Wolves have chances to score here, although the visitors have struggled for away clean sheets.

With that in mind I am going to back both teams to score in this one- 10 of the last 11 Premier League games at St Mary's would have seen that market being a winner including 8 of 9 under the Austrian manager.

Wolves have conceded in 11 straight away Premier League games and my biggest concern is that they won't score here having failed to do that in half of their last 6 on their travels in the League. However this is a team who create chances and Southampton haven't really had much success keeping clean sheets so backing both teams to score at close to odds against quotes has to be the recommendation.

Fantasy Star: James Ward-Prowse- has scored six goals since Ralph Hasenhuttl has taken charge of Southampton and also a set piece taker.

Alternative: Raul Jimenez- if Wolves are going to bounce back from their defeat to Watford in the FA Cup Semi Final, Raul Jimenez is going to have to be key for them.


Manchester United v West Ham United Pick: Manchester United have already climbed out of bigger holes than the one they face in the Champions League Quarter Final against Barcelona, but the club cannot afford to be looking ahead to the Second Leg and take West Ham United for granted.

Ultimately the best route back into the Champions League for next season is with a top four finish in the Premier League and they have to take advantage of facing a West Ham United team who have looked like they might be thinking about their holidays already.

3 losses from the last 4 League games and all by the same 2-0 scoreline is a concern for Manuel Pellegrini, but the squad looks like one that is going to be facing another upheaval in the summer. Players will know that and the feeling is that the West Ham United squad are perhaps not playing at the intensity they need to win Premier League games.

They were better in the second half last Monday at Stamford Bridge and there is still some real quality in the final third with Marko Arnautovic, Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini capable of causing problems. Both Manchester United starting fullbacks are going to be missing on Saturday and the midfield lacks bodies with the tough Barcelona fixture in the legs and I do think that is going to be an issue for the home team.

Manchester United have not been in great form either with 4 losses in their last 5 games in all competitions and they have kept 2 clean sheets in 10 games played at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. One of those came against Championship Reading in the FA Cup Third Round and the defensive issues could be magnified with two of the starting back four out of this fixture.

I do think West Ham United will take advantage, but I still believe Manchester United will find a way to win a game against a team who might not be fully committed to the cause. Defensively West Ham United have really struggled away from home so it would be a huge surprise if they can keep Manchester United contained in this one, especially as both Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard should have plenty to offer after starting as substitutes on Wednesday.

Before last season, 5 of the previous 6 games between these clubs at Old Trafford had ended with both teams scoring and I think that will be the case on Saturday. I think Manchester United will edge it, but recent results between these clubs have been mixed and even at Old Trafford Manchester United have not dominated West Ham United.

A Manchester United win in which both teams score appealed, but I will keep it simple and just recommend the latter situation in itself.

Fantasy Star: Anthony Martial- has been in good recent form for Manchester United and did not start the defeat against Barcelona.

Alternative: Manuel Lanzini- if West Ham United are going to crack their run without a goal, Manuel Lanzini can be the key playmaker to unlock a makeshift Manchester United defence.


Crystal Palace v Manchester City Pick: Chasing multiple trophies is very difficult even for the top clubs as they have to manage minutes and the managers are always under pressure to get the big decisions right.

A defeat at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Champions League Quarter Final First Leg has put Manchester City in a precarious position, but Pep Guardiola felt his team were the stronger one on the day. An early penalty miss was the key and Sergio Aguero may not get to start this fixture with the Second Leg against Tottenham Hotspur to come, but Manchester City can't take liberties with Crystal Palace.

Wins over Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United since the last international break has moved Crystal Palace up to 12th in the Premier League table and now they have nothing to lose. With the pressure off, Crystal Palace have some talented players who can make the difference in the final third and this is going to be a real test of Manchester City's mettle as they look to move above Liverpool in the League table for a couple of hours at least.

A home loss to Crystal Palace and a goalless draw here last season (when Luka Milivojevic missed a penalty) should keep the Manchester City players respectful of the opponent they face. I also think that will help them to make sure they knuckle down and produce a battling performance and I do think they have shown powers of recovery from losses which will see them bounce back here.

It is going to be anything but easy and Manchester City have not been blowing teams away so a big win would be a surprise. Ultimately I think Manchester City will do just enough to edge to the three points against a Crystal Palace team missing James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho at the heart of the defence.

Manchester City have been playing well defensively, although I expect that to be tested by Wilfried Zaha, Michy Batshuayi and Andros Townsend. The home team may score, but I think Manchester City will find a way to win.

The handicap is on the money and I was tempted by backing Crystal Palace with the start as I recommended with Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League Quarter Final. However my overriding feeling is that Manchester City will find a way to win and I will dutch them to win by one or two goal margins which prices up at just under an odds against return.

Fantasy Star: Sergio Aguero- missed an early penalty in the Champions League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, but can bounce back for Manchester City.

Alternative: Aymeric Laporte- key figure in the heart of the Manchester City defence and will need to be at his best to repel the strong Crystal Palace attacks.


Liverpool v Chelsea Pick: It is almost five years to the day when Jose Mourinho brought his Chelsea team to Anfield and upset a Liverpool team chasing their first English League title since 1990. Now Maurizio Sarri will be trying to do the same with this fixture coming at another pivotal time of the season with Liverpool trying to edge out Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

The fixture is no less important to Chelsea who will feel a win at Anfield will go a long way to securing their place in the top four of the Premier League and a return to the Champions League. Some have suggested the Europa League is the priority, but the team selected for the First Leg of the Quarter Final on Thursday shows Sarri is still very keen on a strong Premier League finish.

A strong recent record at Anfield will encourage Chelsea who are unbeaten in 8 visits to this ground including in their last 6 in the Premier League. They came from behind to beat Liverpool in the League Cup earlier this season and Chelsea will be looking to take advantage of any nerves that may have set in around Anfield especially if Manchester City have beaten Crystal Palace earlier in the day.

You can't ignore the fact that Chelsea have not been as strong away from home as they would have liked to be, but the team is playing with confidence and have players in the final third who could cause big problems for their hosts.

In saying that I expect Liverpool to create chances against a Chelsea defence that has been far from secure on their travels. With Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all amongst the goals I find it difficult to imagine Liverpool don't hit the back of the net in this one and 10 of the last 12 between these clubs have ended with both teams scoring.

That includes both games played this season and the last 6 at Anfield since the 0-2 win for Chelsea in April 2014 which has been seen as the moment Liverpool lost their grip on the Premier League title under Brendan Rodgers.

Before the win over Porto, Liverpool had played 5 games in a row in all competitions where both teams have scored. I think Chelsea are playing well enough to find the net at least once here against what could be a nervy host and I will recommend looking for both teams to hit the net in this one.

Fantasy Star: Mohamed Salah- can ram the taunts back down the throats of those small minded Chelsea fans caught singing negative songs about the Egyptian prior to the game in Prague on Thursday.

Alternative: Eden Hazard- if Chelsea are going to derail the Liverpool title push, Eden Hazard is going to be integral to it.


Watford v Arsenal Pick: There are a couple of factors around this Premier League game that makes it difficult to get a read on.

First is how are the Watford players going to react to their stunning comeback win over Wolves in the FA Cup Semi Final? With the Cup Final a little over a month away, Javi Gracia has to get the players back on the ground after the high of last Sunday and get them focusing on trying to finish the League campaign with strength and a potential top seven spot in the standings.

The second factor has to be the scheduling spot for Arsenal who play this League game between their Europa League Quarter Final Legs against Napoli. A 2-0 win over the Italian club at home has given Arsenal a real chance of reaching the Semi Final, but poor away form should mean Unai Emery will know that tie is far from over and so there could be some changes for this League fixture.

It is an important one for Arsenal who are trying to return to the Champions League and they are chasing a top four berth in the Premier League. However the away form in the Premier League has been far from encouraging and I do think this is a fixture that will motivate Watford.

Four of the current top six have won at Vicarage Road already, but Tottenham Hotspur were beaten and Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea were given scares. That shows this Watford team are capable of competing against the better teams in the League, although they have not been convincing defensively which has to be a worry against an Arsenal team that can be very good in the final third when at their best.

Unfortunately for The Gunners they have not really been able to produce their best consistently away from the Emirates Stadium and I think Watford can be chanced with a start on the Asian Handicap. Watford have won 4 in a row at home so should be playing with belief and they have had a few days to recover from the emotions of winning the FA Cup Semi Final as they did.

The home team can be backed with a start on the Asian Handicap and I think that is the play here.

Fantasy Star: Troy Deeney- seems to be up for playing Arsenal and has a good record against them.

Alternative: Aaron Ramsey- potentially rested with the Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg to come in Naples on Thursday. However has been in great form for Arsenal with plenty of recent goals scored.

Fantasy Football

A full round of Premier League games are going to be played from Friday through to Monday and that means plenty more options to get through than GW33. There are some big games to come and below you can see my top potential selections to bring in this weekend.

Goalkeeper 4.8 Million and Above

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur- 5.4 Million): Was a vital part of Tottenham Hotspur's win over Manchester City on Tuesday in the Champions League after saving an early penalty. Hosting goal-shy Huddersfield Town and Tottenham Hotspur have back to back clean sheets here.

Jordan Pickford (Everton- 4.9 Million): Negative headlines did not affect Jordan Pickford in keeping a clean sheet against Arsenal last week. Tough away game at Fulham to come, but Pickford could be a cheaper option to bring in for funds elsewhere.

Goalkeeper 4.7 Million and Below

Nathan Etheridge (Cardiff City- 4.7 Million): Two games against Burnley and Brighton and the potential for at least one clean sheet.

Mat Ryan (Brighton- 4.4 Million): Two home games to be played against Bournemouth and Cardiff City during GW34.

Defender 5.1 Million and Above

Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur- 6 Million): A potential assist maker and every chance of a clean sheet this week for a player who is not being pushed in his position with Serge Aurier injured.

Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City- 5.4 Million): Can create chances with licence to get forward. A lack of clean sheets is a concern, but a home game against Newcastle United does offer a chance for one.

Defender 5 Million and Below

Kurt Zouma (Everton- 5 Million): Has made a big impact for Marco Silva and offers a goal threat.

Shane Duffy (Brighton- 4.8 Million): A popular choice this week considering Brighton play twice at the Amex Stadium and another who can be a real goal-threat from set pieces.

Jan Bednarek (Southampton- 4 Million): Wolves have not scored in two of their last four away Premier League games and Jan Bednarek is a cheap option to get into the Southampton defence.

Midfielder 7.1 Million and Above

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City- 9.7 Million): Was surprisingly not used in the Champions League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, but should be back for Manchester City in the League. Has been creating plenty of chances and back amongst the goals in the win over Cardiff City.

Heung-Min Son (Tottenham Hotspur- 8.7 Million): Was a huge influence when Harry Kane was injured earlier this season and Heung-Min Son has been a popular choice for GameWeek 34.

Anthony Martial (Manchester United- 7.2 Million): Didn't play against Barcelona as a starter and has been in good form in the Premier League.

Midfielder 7 Million and Below

Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United- 6.4 Million): With Manchester United's defence and midfield depleted, Manuel Lanzini could be the key figure if West Ham United are going to score at Old Trafford.

Youri Tielemans (Leicester City- 6.1 Million): Much cheaper alternative to James Maddison and Jamie Vardy and has been in good goal-scoring and assist-making form.

Victor Camarasa (Cardiff City- 4.5 Million): Has scored in two of Cardiff City's last three games and could be a key for them if they are going to upset Burnley and/or Brighton. Two games this week is a bonus.

Forward 6.4 Million and Above

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City- 11.7 Million): Missed a penalty on Tuesday and could potentially be rested for this fixture. However I expect Sergio Aguero to not only start, but bounce back from his personal disappointment.

Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United- 10.8 Million): Will he start? I think the Belgian does and has a very good recent record for Manchester United and has had a lot of success against West Ham United in his career.

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City- 9.2 Million): Another popular choice and someone I have been highlighting for the last month who has continued his hot scoring form.

Forward 6.3 Million and Below

Glenn Murray (Brighton- 6.3 Million): Is playing twice this week and Brighton are playing two weak defences which should give Murray a chance to make hay.

Ashley Barnes (Burnley- 5.7 Million): Did score an own goal last weekend, but made up for it by scoring his sixth goal in ten League games for Burnley.

MY PICKS: Leicester City & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.00 Ladbrokes
Tottenham Hotspur Win to Nil @ 2.00 Bet Victor
Brighton - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet365
Burnley-Cardiff City Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.15 Betfair Sportsbook
Everton & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.05 Ladbrokes
Southampton-Wolves Both Teams to Score @ 2.00 William Hill
Manchester United-West Ham United Both Teams to Score @ 1.72 Bet Fred
Manchester City to Win by One or Two Goals @ 1.94 Sky Bet
Liverpool-Chelsea Both Teams To Score @ 1.80 Bet365
Watford + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.76 Bet Victor